best turbo

[Diesel Fumes]

This is a good topic.

I have the T3 on mine and after turning the fuel screw just a few turns, its blissful to drive.  I love it.  But the K14 sounds appealing because my car lacks boost at low RPM and sometimes this is annoying.  

If one were after a quick car for practical daily use, which turbo would you choose?  I assume a K14 would have more power evenly throughout the rev range whereas a T3 will really come alive at higher RPM and generally be a rev happy engine?

[stewardc]

I have a K14 (internal waste gate) for sale if anyone's interested.

I removed it from my AAZ and installed a Garrett T3. More boost, but later on.

[bert]

I went T3 on my AAZ with a 2.5" exhaust,and it really is a good choice,there is a bit of lag,but my fuelling is factory,ive only altered the on boost fuel.
1st gear,give it some,drop to second the turbo is ready,give it loads in second,drop to third and it just takes off,pulls really strong in 5th too  
Bert

[stewardc]

I agree fully. I have the same setup, but with a Giles pump and ported head in an 800Kg Caddy.    

[bert]

:twisted:
Bert

[stewardc]

Don't ya just love the smell of roasting tires in the morning :roll:

[oldskool rich]

the t3 is amazing, ive had nearly 40psi out of mine, fair enough its lagy but not a problem, just use first gear to get the high rpm then just hold it through the gears, pulls like a train.

i was a gti man before i tried this aaz, now i wudnt even think about going back, i just laugh at people wen they talk about gti and 16v cus i can take em all :lol:

wen i had my standard turbo on it felt like there was more there off the mark but then just cudnt keep up, i remember beeting my mates 16v at a 5 metre race

in my experiance u can eather hav lag then boost or boost then slow

[stewardc]

in my experiance u can eather hav lag then boost or boost then slow

Well then, you've never used a VNT.  A properly sized VNT allows very quick spooling and better flow/bigger boost than the larger turbos at higher RPMs.

Andrew

AND VNTs fail regularly while T3s run forever. :wink:

[bert]

Yes the T3 will run forever,mine was from a 1986 1.6TD and still blows like a goodun  :shock:  i have changed a few vnt turbos,they dont last long,there garrett too,mainly renault diesels,could be a french thing  :wink:
Bert

[stewardc]

 Stewardc, you enjoy making your car look pretty, I enjoy tinkering with mechanical things.  You don't mind turbo lag, I do.  I don't mind making a "complicated" vane control system.  You do.  Everyone has different priorities.    

I disagree strongly. I've just finished building a very advanced AAZ 2-liter for my caddy and the technical side is very important to me. With that displacement, at sea level, boost lag hasn't been an issue. I just fail to see how a unit as complicated as a VNT and it's associated control system is better in any way. Admitedly, it allows a smaller turbo to respond somewhat like a larger turbo, but at what cost? Maybe if I lived at 7000 ft, I would feel different.
I guess everyone has their own formula for success and, obviously, you've found yours.  Let's just agree to disagree, OK? :wink:

[bert]

Before the vnt turbos were around i had never known a turbo fail,but now im doing quite a few,and they are fitted to the designed applications,not made to fit something else,the bearings are colapsing and the ones ive took off have been chewed to pieces,the one had dumped a gallon of oil into the intercooler which in turn bent a rod  :lol:  dont matter it was a renault diesel so no loss there  :wink:,im not the only garage by me in the uk to do turbo exchanges,the local euro car parts keep vnt's in stock as there is such a demand,the one i changed had 55,000 miles 2003 car with 5 service stamps,so the oil had been changed,more if it was my vehicle   the other was a passat pd with 80,000 miles,and a vauxhall vectra 2.0 dti,so its either a weaker design than the old school turbos,or there running at full capacity too much of the time? im not shure,i just feel happy with a proven T3 with 21 years under its belt and still boosting  :twisted:
All the best for the new year lads.Many happy vw diesels
Bert

[Diesel Fumes]

Is there a good rebuild kit available for our T3's?

[bert]

here y go

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-Garrett-quality-T3-Rebuild-Kit-FREE-UK-POST_W0QQitemZ150200265173QQihZ005QQcategoryZ72205QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bert

[stewardc]

I think it all came down to cost. The electronics were driving engine prices up, so VW turned to technology to recover some cost. The VNT is definitely a much smaller (cheaper-to-build) turbo than a T3 and the variable vanes allow it to produce boost (though working much harder) where it shouldn't, so cost is kept down while reliability suffers. Another victim of the bean counters.

[stewardc]

You have the answers, I guess. I was just offering opinions. There must be some reason that VW switched to a far less reliable turbo. I'm sure I don't know what the reason is.